National Motorists Association Blog

Vehicles accumulate a lot of damage from accidents and the elements, but another source of trouble that often gets overlooked: rodents. Cars are the perfect safe havens for rats, mice and other pesky critters.

Here are five key tips every driver should know to keep these animals out and prevent problems.

Keep the Interior Clean
First of all, you don’t want to draw attention to your car. Rodents are willing to look anywhere for food. If your vehicle is full of wrappers and other trash, they will find it eventually. They also like to use paper, cardboard, twigs, and leaves to build their nests. Clean out the garbage and vacuum the interior regularly so your car doesn’t become a target.

Rodents also like to chew on whatever they can find, including wires. Their teeth never stop growing, so they’re constantly gnawing and nibbling on random things. Don’t give them anything to chew on. Phone chargers and clothes are two common victims. Your car’s interior shouldn’t have anything that might attract unwanted critters.

Clean Out the Engine Compartment
Your car’s engine compartment is dry and warm. It also has many chewable wires and potential nesting areas. Ensure rodents don’t make themselves at home by opening the hood and airing out the engine compartment now and then. Look out for nesting materials, droppings, and food collections.

If you notice signs of rodent activity, put on some gloves and remove everything with a paper towel. Then disconnect your car’s battery and spray the contaminated areas with a multisurface disinfectant. You might also have to replace the air filter. When everything is clean, leave the hood open for a while and let the compartment get some ventilation.

Don’t Park in One Place for Too Long
Parking is a crucial part of preventing rodent damage. Vermin might start snooping around if your car remains parked in an outdoor spot for more than a few days. It doesn’t take long for them to build new nests. Move your vehicle around and park in different places so they don’t get a chance to settle in.

You should also be mindful of your car’s surroundings. Most American cities have worsening rat problems, so parking on a quiet side street with little foot traffic might not be a good idea. Roads with plenty of lighting and human activity are less likely to have rodents running around.

Prep Your Garage
Consider yourself lucky if you have a garage. They are the best places to protect your vehicle from outside forces, including animals. Still, rodents have a knack for infiltrating protected spaces. You must prep your garage by securing the entry points, especially the door. Regularly replace the weather stripping and patch up any holes or cracks.

You must also store items in the garage properly. There are many things that rodents might want, including food, water, garbage, fabric, wood, and cozy places to build a nest. Don’t let these items sit and collect dust. Put the most attractive things in sealed storage containers and do some occasional rearranging so vermin can’t get comfortable.

Put up Physical and Chemical Barriers
Put up some physical and chemical barriers if rodents continue to be a problem despite your best efforts. Metal mesh screens and ultrasonic sound emitters keep critters away from your engine compartment and other vulnerable areas. Covering the wiring with some electrical or rodent tape is another option.

Rodents also hate many overpowering smells. Putting mothballs or air freshening devices around your car’s entry points could be an effective solution. Here are some other odors that might ward them off:

• Clove
• Citrus
• Peppermint
• Eucalyptus
• Wormwood
• Chemicals (vinegar, bleach, ammonia, etc.)

Your car might smell funny for a few days, but you will quickly get used to it. The rodents will be happy to raid another vehicle with more attractive scents.

Take the Rodent Threat Seriously

The likelihood that rodents will invade your vehicle is low, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the problem. Take the threat seriously and start treating your car better. Regularly clean it, park in the right spots, and set up some lines of defense. You’re the dominant species in this situation, so act like it.

Martin Banks is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Modded. He covers the world of cars, driving, tech, and more. 

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.